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Ga. prison clerk sentenced in payroll scheme

ATLANTA — Prosecutors say a former employee at the Georgia State Prison has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for falsifying payroll entries that funneled thousands of dollars to her daughter and another man.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/X4zC9x ) that Debbie Lynn Wright had earlier been found guilty of racketeering for falsifying overtime hours.

Authorities say the scheme led to $14,000 being paid to Wright's daughter, Christin, who worked as an administrative assistant at the prison. Authorities say an additional $129,000 was paid to Paul Sylvester Thornhill, who was a licensed nurse at the prison.

In return, prosecutors say, Debbie Wright received an unspecified amount that she used to pay bills.